Archive for June 25th, 2008

Nearly six billion US dollars provided by the US to Pakistan to fight against terrorism since the September 9, 2001 attacks on America has been of little use for that purpose, an independent audit has found out.

The findings by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released in a report on 24 June, 2008, showed a troubling lack of oversight and accountability for the US funds to Pakistan that were meant to combat terrorism.

The findings angered Congress members with the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrat, Howard Berman expressing shock at the lack of oversight of several billion dollars heading the way of Pakistan from Coalition Support Funds, which is funding the war on terror.

”I’m shocked at the lack of oversight of billions of dollars that have been doled out in Pakistan in an effort to fight terrorism,” Berman said in a statement.

The US has provided Pakistan about USD 5.6 billion since 2001 attacks on World Trade Centre, when more than 3000 people were killed. The GAO found several cases where the Bush Administration could not explain or account for such payments, including millions of dollars for road construction with no evidence that any roads were built, and reimbursement costs to the Pakistan military that may be duplicative.

”The report documents how US funds were used without any evidence that they supported counter-terrorism efforts. ”The US government is being asked to reimburse Pakistan for non-incremental air defence radar maintenance when al Qaida is not even known to have an air force. The purpose of these funds is to support the fight against extremists, and not to boost Pakistan’s conventional warfare capability,” Howard Berman said.

Bush :- Don’t worry man, Half of the money spent on ISI to combat against India and remaining went into pockets of politicians.

Howard Berman :- Pakistan is spending more than budget allocated funds on ISI. There is no accountability for their own money how can you expect the accountability for US funds. But good try, Let’s see when will US government open it’s eyes.

Readers :- Most of the US (World) enemies (Taliban, Al Qaeda, Saddam Hussain etc) are once funded and supported by US. Once the designated work over, they became enemies (Only God knows the reasons). Let’s see whether history repeats or not?

In a role reversal for many, an IIM graduate has opted to take up farming as his chosen career. Kaushalendra, a topper from IIM- Ahmedabad, and hailing from Bihar, has gone back to his native village to sell vegetables.

His dream is to market Brand Bihar vegetables to all parts of the country.

And his pushcart too is extraordinary – ice-cooled to keep his vegetables fresh.

”My dream is to make Bihar the vegetable hub of the country. I want to see vegetables in the name of Brand Bihar in the every plate of Indians,” he says.

What made Kaushalendra go off the beaten path was his close links with his native village in Nalanda where cultivating vegetables is a way of life.

Kaushalendra’s family was initially shocked at his decision but is now confident of his success.

”The family was upset initially. Then we thought that he has always done well and will do well in future too,” says his father Dhirendra.

Some farmers have joined Kaushalendra in his enterprise and the government too has offered support. So, sooner rather than later, Kaushalendra could see his dream come true – his dream of going global with his Brand Bihar greens.